Rating:

5.0 (1 vote)

Officials say a man shot and killed Wednesday afternoon when he threatened a West Liberty police officer with a knife and a machete was former employee at a nearby prison.

The Morgan County jailer confirms Jimmy Hill, 42, worked at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex. He retired on February 1.

West Liberty Police Chief Kelse Hensley says he and Sgt. Scott Adkins responded to Hill's home to investigate a domestic dispute. Hensley says Hill was drunk and came out of the house brandishing a knife and a machete. He says they tried to diffuse the situation, but Hill would not respond and Adkins was forced to fire a shot.

"Our office is pretty shaken up," Hensley said. "The officer was met with deadly force, and he responded with deadly force."

The incident happened across the street from West Liberty Elementary School, and there was a group of kids on the playground.

"It's unfortunate, but unavoidable," Hensley said.

Adkins was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into the shooting.